(For three days, four cops staked out the entrance to 26 rue de la Montagne Sainte Geneviève, but the entire district spotted them. It’s rumored that they’re on the trail of a Corsican villain and everyone imagines he’s a thief, a murderer, or worse.)

(The most rebellious of my neighbors, concerned for her kids’ safety, spoke with one of the cops, demanding to know if there was real danger. The cop’s response, although comforting, disappointed us all. Evidently, it’s just two ATM card traffickers: “they rented the first floor but haven’t paid for the last six months”.)